2014 Blue Jeans Week 52--Christmas

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!  Our week was great.  Filled with a birthday, lots of music, good food, and family.  We are so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who gave the best gift of Himself for us.  He is the reason for the season.  Here is a look at our week. . .

The girls were practicing a number to play Christmas Eve at our neighbor's house and at our house.  Christmas Eve is full of lots of music at our house.

In between all the Christmas stuff, we had a birthday!  Miss A turned 17.  SEVENTEEN!!!  When did that happen?  She is an amazing girl who blesses our family so much!  Sure love you Miss A!

Our tradition of sleeping by the Christmas tree on the 23rd.

The girls got Mr J in to help them on their musical number of "A little Drummer boy" with Mr J being the drummer boy :)  It was a beautiful number!

Christmas Eve--having fun singing songs with Grandpa!

One of many musical numbers Christmas Eve was a duet by these two.

Our Nativity play is always a highlight of the evening!

Ending the night with the kids opening one present--which is new PJ's

Our Christmas countdown candle made it to the 24th!  

Hello Christmas morning!

Miss E must have been really good because she got the ipod she had been wanting :)

A blanket I made for Ben.

Miss O loves markers!

Ben making our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of ebelskivers--A Danish tradition he got from his Dad who served his mission there.

And more Christmas fun at Nana and Grandpa's later in the day.  What a fun Christmas Day!

Anniversary

19 years ago today I made the best decision of my life.

I married this amazing man right here who blesses my life each and every day.

I am super lucky to have him.

And he is a really good kisser :)  

A birthday

So my oldest child turned 17 this week.  17!!!!  SEVENTEEN!!! How in the world did she get that old?  I am certainly way to young to have a 17 year old!  But considering our 19th wedding anniversary is tomorrow, I guess it works, but man alive, where did the time go?

She is an absolutely amazing young woman who I admire so much.  She didn't want a cake for her birthday, she wanted an ice cream buffet, so we got eggnog, gingerbread, pumpkin, hot chocolate and grape sherbet ice cream for her "cake" to celebrate.  She has a scoop of each in her bowl with a candle on top.   

She got these cute new boots and coat.  She is such a hard worker, so kind, considerate and major talented--she sings, plays the piano and French horn and is so smart.  She blesses my life everyday, and I admire her strength and courage.  Sure love you Miss A!  What a blessing you are in my life!  

2014 Daily December 25--Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

2014 Daily December 24--Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is a big deal in our family.  It involves a lot of music and traditions.  We love it!  These pictures are from last year, but we do the same thing every year.

We start out in the afternoon going next door to our amazing neighbors.  We love them so much.  The kids always perform for them on Christmas Eve.  Mr J was playing some Christmas songs here.

Miss O and Miss E did a duet on their horns which was really good.

And Miss A played a beautiful piano piece.  We enjoy spending the time with them and also exchange gifts.  We are blessed with the best neighbors!

Then we have a big dinner at our house in the evening with family and friends.  After dinner it is music again--all the kids starting from the youngest to oldest play Christmas songs--some we sing to and some we just listen to.

Then either Ben or my Dad reads the Christmas story from the Bible and the kids and others act out the Nativity.

Everyone has a lot of fun with that!

And then we end off the night with our tradition of the kids opening one gift--new PJ's.  Then everyone tries to go to sleep so Santa can come :)  The kids always end up sleeping together in Miss A's room.  So they don't get to sleep too quickly :)

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!!

2014 Daily December 23--Christmas Card

2014 Daily December 22--Blue Jeans Week 51

We officially made it through the last week of school before the holidays.  Thank goodness!  They were really busy weeks!   This last one was no different.  Our 4th Christmas concert of the season, a Christmas Ball, a Christmas party, basketball games, and other life in general filled our week.  Take a look. . .

We wanted to Share the Gift this season--the Gift being our Savior Jesus Christ.  If you haven't seen the short Christmas movie "He is the Gift" then take a few minutes and view it here It is so good to remind us what the season is really about.

Our 4th and last Christmas concert was the high school choir concert.  These two were in it and did awesome!  Miss A had a solo and sang "Silent Night" in German.  It was beautiful!

Mr. J and a fun Library Christmas story hour with some friends.  Our library and children's librarian are the best!

Miss E had a field trip to the city and went ice skating and had lots of fun!

Miss E had a Christmas Ball.  She looked so pretty and had lots of fun with her friends.

We had a tiny bit of snow and I got a shot of the house with Ben's awesome Christmas lights.  

Last day of school before the break Mr J was announced as Student of the Month.  He was super excited and his teacher nominations were neat to read.  One good kid!

Miss A and her cute friend hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater party at our house.  They had lots of fun, good food, and enjoyed the evening with their friends.

Thanks for visiting!  Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!!

2014 Daily December 21--Christmas Ball

In between all the crazy of December life--basketball games, Christmas concerts, parties, etc, Miss E had a Christmas Ball at school. 

Here she is with her friends before.  All dressed up and ready to go.

Always have to get a funny picture :)

This is her friend she has known since they were born.  Thought she looked super cute!  She had a fun time.  

2014 Daily December 20--Christmas Concert #4

Last Christmas concert was this week.  

It involved these two cute girls in their high school choir and show choir.

Miss A sang a solo of Silent Night in German and did an amazing job!  These are the girls with the regular choir.

Then they have their show choir.

They did an awesome job too.  Love music.  Love Christmas music.  Have enjoyed all the Christmas concerts, but it is also nice to have them over :)

2014 Daily December 19--Candy sleighs

Last Christmas we were blessed to have my sister, her husband and 2 boys spend Christmas with us.  As we were getting things ready Christmas eve my brother-in-law pulls out these candy sleighs that he had made for each of the kids. I thought they were so impressive!  Easy to make and super cute!  Take a look. . .

Supplies needed:  2 candy canes, 1 large Kit Kat, 10 mini candy bars, tape, double sided tape, glitter tape and bow

He taped the candy canes to the bottom of a kit kat.  Then he used double sided tape to attach the mini candy bars in rows on top of the kit kat.

This is the top before he put the bow on. He went around it to "wrap" it with glitter tape which we found at Wal-mart for $.97 in their craft area.

A super cute, easy, candy sleigh.  Just stick a bow on top and ready for giving!  No cooking involved!